Like most Pinnacle projects, the work was completed efficiently — minimizing disruption for the property owner.

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A large brick commercial building on Whelden Avenue in East Providence presented a familiar low-slope challenge: multiple chimneys and vents, expansive flat sections, and drainage that had to be dialed in to keep water moving off the roof. Pinnacle took on the flat-roof system to deliver a watertight, well-draining surface built for the demands of a busy commercial property.

Scope of Work

Work began with a full assessment of the low-slope deck, including the ponding-prone areas and the many penetrations rising through the roof. The crew prepared the substrate, then installed the flat-roof membrane system across the field — fully adhering the rubber membrane and heat-welding the modified-bitumen details where the design called for it, so the surface reads as one continuous, watertight plane. Each chimney, vent, and curb was flashed and sealed into the membrane, and the perimeter and drainage paths were detailed so water sheds toward the outlets instead of pooling. The full range of these systems is outlined on our Commercial Roofing page.

What We Installed (And Why)

The roof combines a fully-adhered rubber membrane across the broad flat sections with heat-welded modified-bitumen detailing where the building demands extra reinforcement. A fully-adhered membrane bonds tight to the substrate, which resists wind uplift and eliminates the billowing that loose-laid systems can develop on a large, exposed roof. On a building this size, that continuous bond is what keeps the entire field performing as a single sealed surface.

The other half of the job was the penetrations. A brick commercial building like this one carries multiple chimneys and vents, and every one of them is a potential leak path. The crew flashed and sealed each penetration into the membrane rather than relying on surface sealant, and detailed the drainage so standing water — the number-one enemy of any flat roof — has a clear path off the deck. Together, the adhered field, the welded details, and the corrected drainage give the property a roof engineered to stay dry.

Project Photo Gallery

Finished low-slope commercial roof membrane

Clean seam and flashing detail on the flat roof

Completed commercial roof system with proper drainage

Good To Know: How do you stop leaks around chimneys and vents on a flat roof?

The answer is proper flashing, not caulk. On a low-slope commercial roof, each chimney, vent, and curb is wrapped and sealed directly into the membrane so the waterproofing is continuous around the penetration. Combined with corrected drainage that keeps water moving toward the outlets, this approach eliminates the standing-water and open-seam conditions that cause most flat-roof leaks — protecting the building long after the crew leaves.

Why This Approach Works

Large flat roofs fail in predictable places: at the seams, around the penetrations, and in the low spots where water collects. Pinnacle’s system attacks all three. A fully-adhered membrane removes seam and uplift weaknesses across the field, welded modified-bitumen reinforces the high-stress details, and corrected drainage keeps water from ever settling long enough to find a way in. On a building of this scale, addressing the drainage is just as important as the membrane itself — a flat roof that sheds water quickly simply has far fewer opportunities to leak. For a commercial owner, that combination means fewer service calls, less interior disruption for the people who use the building every day, and a roof that protects the structure and everything under it for years to come.

Why Pinnacle

Commercial flat roofing is a discipline of its own, and Pinnacle holds the credentials to prove it. As a Mule-Hide & Gaco Licensed Applicator and Firestone Building Envelope Certified contractor, the team is trained and vetted on the membrane and modified-bitumen systems that large commercial buildings rely on. Serving Rhode Island since 2012, Pinnacle carries a 5.0-star Google rating with 100+ five-star Google reviews, an A+ rating with the BBB, and RI Commercial License #261 — so property owners get a documented, professional installation backed by a team that stands behind its work.